Harvest Monday April 29, 2023

It’s time once again for Harvest Monday, where we celebrate all things harvest related. Speaking of harvests, I made another cutting of tender new leaves from the overwintered collard plants. I thought they were about done for, but at least one plant (Jernigan’s Yellow Cabbage) proved me wrong and gave us a bit less than a pound of tender leaves last week. These are great when lightly sautéed in a bit of olive oil, and for me don’t need much in the way of seasoning other than some salt.

collard harvest

We’re also continuing to enjoy the lettuce I’m harvesting from the greenhouse plantings. This week I cut a giant head of Grazion, which is a green leaf lettuce with thick, wavy leaves. That one weighed over a pound, and lasted for several salads.

Grazion lettuce

It’s been a great year so far for asparagus too. We continue to cut a few ounces every day, and now have harvested right at eight pounds so far. Last year’s total was 13 pounds, and with about a month left in the season we should reach that amount again this year easily .

roasted asparagus

The overwintered parsley is bolting and just about done for. Those leaves aren’t quite as tender as normal, but plenty good enough to make another batch of tabouli salad last week.

parsley harvest

Tabouli salad

I pulled more of the Forum onions last week, and I continue to be happy with how they are doing. I planted sets last fall, and they have proven to be hardy and vigorous growers. I’m hoping to let a few size up, though eventually I will need to pull them all to make room for this year’s sweet potato planting.

Forum onions

In non-harvest news, our Encore azaleas are in full bloom now. These are repeat bloomers that put on another show in early fall, though usually the spring bloom is the heavier of the two. Our other azaleas have been done for several weeks now, so these are a welcome sight at the front of our house.

Encore azaleas

red azalea

pink azalea

And last but not least, the clematis (Crystal Fountain) we planted by our front porch last year is really blooming now. The blooms are huge, and the compact vines are literally covered in them.

Crystal Fountain clematis

closeup of bloom

Harvest Monday is a day to show off your harvests, how you are saving your harvest, or how you are using your harvest. If you have a harvest you want to share, add your name and blog link to Mr Linky below. And please check out what everyone is harvesting!